Letters To Editor -> News Details Biogas in Pakistan
With the energy crisis in Pakistan getting worse day by day, biogas plants in rural areas can play a major role in decreasing the burden on the national energy grids. Even in the developed countries like UK, biogas plants are being built and encouraged with the help of government funds and many other incentives. In our neighbouring country India, there are almost two millions biogas plants.
Pakistan’s 70 percent population lives in the rural areas. Most farmers have two or more cows/buffalos. The dung from these cattle mixed with an equal proportion of water can be used to produce biogas in a biogas plant. This biogas can then be used for cooking purposes or to generate electricity through a gas fired engine whereas the residue from this plant can be used as a fertiliser. Typically, 50 kg cow dung is required to produce 100 cubic feet of biogas that is sufficient to fulfil the daily requirements of a family of five or six members.
About 4,137 biogas plants were installed in Pakistan with the help of the government in the period 1974 to 1987. The government fully funded the first 100 installations and later on withdrew the financial support. Since then, the growth rate of this technology dropped drastically and only 6,000 biogas plants were installed till the end of 2006. Pakistan Centre for Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) has already installed and supported 4,000 biogas plants with only 50 percent financial contribution from beneficiaries.
There are significant social, economic and environmental benefits of biogas technology. The government of Pakistan through PCRET and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) should take the initiative and announce more funds and support for this proven technology to be a part of our rural society. In parallel, the media should raise the level of awareness among the rural community by highlighting the benefits of this technology. NGOs and foreign investors should be encouraged to invest in this sector too.
KHURAM PERVEZ
London, UK
With the energy crisis in Pakistan getting worse day by day, biogas plants in rural areas can play a major role in decreasing the burden on the national energy grids. Even in the developed countries like UK, biogas plants are being built and encouraged with the help of government funds and many other incentives. In our neighbouring country India, there are almost two millions biogas plants.
Pakistan’s 70 percent population lives in the rural areas. Most farmers have two or more cows/buffalos. The dung from these cattle mixed with an equal proportion of water can be used to produce biogas in a biogas plant. This biogas can then be used for cooking purposes or to generate electricity through a gas fired engine whereas the residue from this plant can be used as a fertiliser. Typically, 50 kg cow dung is required to produce 100 cubic feet of biogas that is sufficient to fulfil the daily requirements of a family of five or six members.
About 4,137 biogas plants were installed in Pakistan with the help of the government in the period 1974 to 1987. The government fully funded the first 100 installations and later on withdrew the financial support. Since then, the growth rate of this technology dropped drastically and only 6,000 biogas plants were installed till the end of 2006. Pakistan Centre for Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) has already installed and supported 4,000 biogas plants with only 50 percent financial contribution from beneficiaries.
There are significant social, economic and environmental benefits of biogas technology. The government of Pakistan through PCRET and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) should take the initiative and announce more funds and support for this proven technology to be a part of our rural society. In parallel, the media should raise the level of awareness among the rural community by highlighting the benefits of this technology. NGOs and foreign investors should be encouraged to invest in this sector too.
KHURAM PERVEZ
London, UK
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